Belichick flaunts his Celtic Pride

Posted by NECN - Sports May 29, 2008 at 3:13 pm

(NECN: Foxboro, Mass.) - Apparently, there is a way to get Bill Belichick to be a chatting machine, and even smile! The secret? Don't ask him about the Patriots.

Belichick talked up his Celtic Pride today at the team's passing camp, praising the team for their Game 5 win over the Detroit Pistons, which he and Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi took in from courtside Wednesday night.

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Can’t Spell Defense without the “D”

Posted by Mike Giardi May 27, 2008 at 10:12 am

A disappointing performance by the C’s in losing Monday’s Game 4 in Detroit. People will point to the 75 points and 32% shooting and exclaim, “that’s it!” No question throwing up bricks didn’t help the cause, but once again, this defeat was all about defense.

For the second time this series, the Pistons lit up the Green team like a Christmas tree. 51.4% from the floor is an obscene number, especially when you consider how stingy the C’s have been all year. Point to any win this postseason, and you can definitively say its was the “D” that drove the Celts there. Its this team’s calling card, more so than the “Big 3,” or “New 3,” or whatever the heck you want to call them. Last night, it only reared it heads during a couple of periods, and not surprisingly, that’s when the C’s crept within 4 right at the end of the opening half.

I mean, how many times can you give Antonio McDyess that jumper a couple feet beyond the foul line? A majority of the time, that shot wasn’t even challenged! Note to Tom Thibodeau and his charges: that’s Antonio’s favorite shot! Not quite as easy as a layup, but damn close. It was McDyess who set the tone offensively for Detroit in the opening minutes of the game, allowing them to build a quick double-digit lead and bring the crowd very much into each and every possession, something that didn’t happen in Saturday’s Game 3.

As for Ray Allen’s perimeter defense on Rip Hamilton, the less said, the better. Ray can be upset at his teammates for not getting him more involved in the offense, and you can sort of see where he’s coming. Ditto when he pins that on his coach. But in no way, shape or form should that disrupt his play at the other end; if anything, Allen should be more intense, hoping for some steals and easy buckets in transition. Instead, Rip has owned him in 3 of the first 4 games of the series. That’s not becoming an All-Star and, as some would suggest, a possible Hall of Famer (don’t get me started on that one).

Okay, so now its back to the Garden, and quite frankly, the pressure is all on the C’s. They lost that aura of invincibility on the parquet when they dropped Game 2. Can they regain the edge and get one step closer to a trip to the NBA Finals? Only if they remember to spell defense with a big “D”.

Super 7

Posted by Mike Giardi May 25, 2008 at 10:08 pm

1. I think the Celtics have turned the corner. I think that win at the Palace may be a trigger, a consistent return to what we saw during the regular season. There was a confidence and swagger that had been lacking during those 6 previous road losses to Atlanta and Cleveland. You can see it in the smiles that showed up at the podium, and again today after the walkthrough. That which was lacking is here again.

2. That said, the Pistons will be full of sound and fury tomorrow night. This is it. They have been here and done this twice before; fall down 2-1 in a best-of-7 series then win 3 straight. They did it versus the Indiana Pacers the year Detroit won the title, and they did it again a couple seasons ago when they toppled the Miami Heat to reach the Finals. Here’s the one difference. Chauncey Billups isn’t nearly the same player, and that hamstring/groin injury is killing his explosion and - in turn - Detroit’s shot at another title will fall by the wayside.

3 Hard to get too upset with the Red Sox’s play, even after getting swept by the A’s in Oakland but…I will. The bullpen is so…sketchy, if you will. Other than Papelbon, no one elevating. We know all about Okie’s struggles with inherited runners, which might not be so pronounced if any of the trio of Delcarmen, Hansen or Aardsma were throwing consistently. Alas, they are not. So what Francona to do? Just keep sending ‘em out there, hoping that in between, the Pitcher’s Whisperer, John Farrell, gets them fixed. Helpless? Not quite, but who knows how many games then pen has cost a team that’s tied for first-place. I suspect the Sox would be up by at least 4 or 5 games. What month does Justin Masterson become part of the bullpen? July? August? Based on past history, it feels like a stone-cold lock, doesn’t it?

4. Julio Lugo committed his 12th error this season, and is hitting the quietest .295 I can remember. This hasn’t gone anywhere near as well as Theo would have predicted when he took the 4-year, 36-million dollar dip a couple offseasons ago. Oh sure, I know he was part of a World Series winning team, but he didn’t build up enough cache last year to escape criticism. Truthfully, my expectations have been lowered to the point that I’ll accept solid glovework, the occasional base knock and a few stolen bases. You?

5. I don’t know if the Tampa Rays are in this for the long haul, but have won 15 of their last 16 at the Trop. In that run, they’ve swept 4 series, including the Sox and Angels. I think they may emerge as a strong rivals to the boys from Boston, so long as Kazmir, Shields and Matt Garza live up to their potential. And on that note, rookie Evan Longoria hasn’t hit for average, but has had a couple of game-winning knocks, including today. If he’s not a 10-time All-Star, its a terrible waste.

6.  As for the Yankees, a 5-game win streak has them an even 25-25. Joba Chamberlain is making the transition from pen to rotation, and you wonder if this is the right move. If he can be an 18-to-20 game-winner, absolutely. But does he have that kind of secondary stuff? We’re about to find out, but I think that if the Yanks were thinking, they wouldn’t have thought that. Bonus points if you know what movie I’m referencing there.

7. What’s the over/under on Willie Randolph? Another week? Maybe 2? The Mets manager should have been let go at the conclusion of last season - when the Mets had the greatest collapse in baseball history. That said, I don’t think this is his fault. GM Omar Minaya loves the big names, but he’s created a combustible clubhouse and has a bunch of underachieving big ticket players who are past their prime. Sounds like something the Sox would have done in previous regimes. Its Omar who should be in search of a new gig long, but Willie ends up playing the fall guy.

Adjust the Bass and let the Alpine Blast…

Posted by Mike Giardi May 25, 2008 at 11:37 am

23 points from the Celtics bench. Another 12 and 10 from Kendrick. My call to the bench boys was answered last night and, not surprisingly, the Celts are now at the wheel of that shiny Cadillac Escalade with the $50,000 rims. Or if you prefer, a big ole Benz. Me, I’ll take the family truckster, but that’s how I roll.

Anyway, hard to believe that was the same team we saw get abused by the Pistons on the previously pristine Garden floor, but I checked the tape, and the faces were the same. It was just the performances that changed.  The C’s supporting cast has been a question  mark in the second season, alternately shying away from, then embracing key moments. Last night, Posey, Cassell, P.J. and Big Baby hugged it out, and now the Green team has recaptured home court advantage.

You knew it was going to be different in the opening quarter. Both Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen got hit with two quick fouls, and Doc had no choice but to rely on these guys. But unlike in Game 2, the bench responded quickly and productively. They helped answer a 13-0 run by Detroit with a 10-0 whitewashing themselves. Posey dropped in a  big 3 from the corner, then Cassell got an open look at the top of the key and softly coaxed it in. That didn’t happen Thursday, especially for Cassell, who was rooted to the floor with that awkward looking wrap engulfing his back and logged yet another DNP-CD.

Perkins deserves credit as well. “Molasses” may not be the most fluid athlete we’ve ever laid eyes on, but he’s a decent shooter, and we know he can rebound and supply a defensive presence in the paint. At least, we’ve seen him do those things for stretches during the regular season and even in the playoffs.

Last night was arguably his best performance in May. Perk went 6-of-7 from the floor, had 10 boards and made life difficult for anyone who dared venture into the paint. I’d like to see him do it again Monday, but I have to remind myself that the big fella is still young in experience, despite having several seasons of NBA life under his belt.

So now what lies ahead? A chance to stagger Detroit by taking another one at the Palace. As Paul Pierce and Garnett said following last night’s victory  - and I’m paraphrasing - why come here for just one win? That’s the right sentiment, now let’s see if the Green team and its bench boys deliver the same kind of 1-2 punch.

Confidence key in NBA Eastern Conference finals

Posted by Allison Sonfist May 20, 2008 at 6:22 pm

The Boston Celtics were the best team in the regular season, but the same hasn’t remained true in the post season. However, the Celtics’ confidence remains high.

Celts won’t let lack of rest bring them down

Posted by Allison Sonfist May 20, 2008 at 6:03 pm

Detroit is at Boston tonight for Game 1 of the best-of-seven NBA Eastern Conference Finals. Though the Pistons have had plenty of time to rest up for the series, the Celtics are ready to rumble.

Playoff Basketball

Posted by Mike Giardi April 20, 2008 at 9:34 pm

We’ve had our first real surprise of the NBA Playoffs. That didn’t take long. The 76ers going into Detroit and stealing Game 1 of their first round series. In the grand scheme of this postseason, it may not mean much, but to me, it strengthens my belief that something is amiss with the Pistons. Its why - for many reasons - I think LeBron poses a bigger threat to the Celtics than anyone else in the East (and yes, I know the Cavs supporting cast is a grade better than my 12-and-under Travel Team). LeBron is a singular force. I put him in football terms. He’s built like a linebacker with a scatback’s speed and a fullback’s power. A freak of nature. If any one human being can beat a team almost singlehandedly, its Bron Bron. It doesn’t how many bodies you run at him, James can go 1-on-5 and still get a good look. Just ask the guys who have the unenviable task of checking him.

Back to Detroit…any team that Rasheed Wallace plays a critical role on will always be in question to me. Yes, the man is incredibly gifted. He can play go-to-guy on offense, and stopper on defense. His basketball IQ is at the top of the chart. But he’s a nut case. In that last meeting with the C’s, he got so annoyed that he wasn’t getting any calls inside that he decided to play outside the arc for the entire second half. How’s that productive? It wasn’t, and his coach, Flip Saunders knows it. ‘Sheed will probably cost Flip his job at some point. Trust me. Its bound to happen, just like his team under-performing in the playoffs yet again.